Dancing with the Demons

'Don't touch my back',
he would warn us,
Army green at our Navy blue
Pearl Harbor parties thrown
during that five month
reprieve from Nam.

'...gave a man a black eye,
when he came up behind...'
words sliding between Joplin's Cry,
and the Stone's 'can't get no'.

Handsome in a worn-down Bogey sort of way,
he never smiled
never joined with our arm flailing
foot stomping, sweat pouring
flight from the tomorrows
bound to arrive.

I often wondered why he came,
made that long transit down from the hills
to watch and speak of his back.

In my maturity, it became clear.
He knew we danced with the demons, too.


Pris Campbell
©2002

Photo: Pearl Harbor Housing, 1969

Music: Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Credence Clearwater Revival

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